iPod/Smartboard Integration

Want to learn how to make iPods more than just apps?  In this professional development breakout session you will be introduced to creating videos through the Smartboard, using apps as a classroom response system, creating flashcards to review skills, “kicking” videos, and organizing iTunes movies by genre. Learn how to make the best instructional use of this new classroom technology.  Check out our preview.

Google Docs Setup

Use this demo to see Google Docs in action at http://docs.google.com/demo.  Invite others to try it with you just by sharing the link that is provided on the demo page.  Please note however, the page is only available for 24 hours from the time it was created and if you want to practice more you will need to return to the link above and start again.

Now that you are familiar with Google Docs, use the following video to help you set-up your own Google account.

In your Google Documents, don't forget to browse the template gallery.  It offers many ideas to get you started and they are easy to modify to meet your needs.  Find a form, spreadsheet, game, drawing, and/or document and get started today.  To locate the "template gallery", look under "CREATE NEW" and select "FROM TEMPLATE".

Integers

I have been working with my students on integers this week.  It is always a difficult concept for many of my sixth graders.  We started using this video and many are now adding and subtracting with ease.  We also made up a song for multiplication and division:
Same signs, pos-i-tive,
diff-erent -- neg-a-tive
Now just multiply or divide
And you'll be just fine.

Let's Kick It -- Downloading Video From YouTube

This week I have been working on kicking videos from YouTube to my desktop.  This allows me to sync them to the iPods for my students to use as review and reference. I first tired to “kick” using FireFox and was not successful. I then tried using the web browser, Safari and found that downloading these videos was very simple and painless. So remember to use Safari. I created this movie to help anyone “kick” with ease. Good luck. 

I saved all my videos to the desktop. I then created a YouTube folder that is categorized first by subjects and then topics: YouTube ---> Mathematics ---> Algebra, Geometry, Fractions, etc.  folders

When I am ready to sync, I drag the videos I want my students to watch into iTunes.  

Sync iPods and your students will be ready to watch an educational video for review or reference.  Students will click on the "video" icon to watch.